Elizabeth of Valois was a French princess born on April 2, 1545. She was the daughter of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici. In 1559, she married Philip II of Spain, becoming the Queen of Spain. Her marriage was part of a political alliance between France and Spain. Elizabeth's life was marked by her role in the complex politics of 16th-century Europe. She had three daughters, but her marriage was strained due to Philip's infidelities. Elizabeth died on October 3, 1568, at the age of 23, leaving a legacy tied to both French and Spanish royal histories.